The Countess of Chester Hospital is among the top 40 hospitals in the UK for the 10th year in a row – one of only five Trusts in the country to achieve this.

The 40 Top Hospitals Award awards, which recognises excellence in the NHS acute sector, have only been in existence for ten years meaning the Countess successfully received the accolade every year.

Winners were announced at an awards ceremony in London attended by chief executives, chairs, medical directors and other senior NHS managers.

The dinner was hosted by sponsors CHKS, an independent provider of healthcare intelligence, which makes individual awards for patient safety, quality of care and data quality as well as celebrating excellence among its clients across the UK.

These are based on the evaluation of 21 key performance indicators covering safety, clinical effectiveness, health outcomes, efficiency, patient experience and quality of care.

Dr Virginia Clough, medical director at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: “I collected this award on behalf of all the staff at the Countess whose amazing work makes this hospital one of the safest places to be treated in the country.

“We are privileged to be singled out as one of only five Trusts in the country to have been awarded this accolade ten years in a row. To receive this award year after year recognises our ongoing drive for excellence in clinical care.”

James Coles, director of research, CHKS, said: “We are delighted that the Countess of Chester Hospital is one of our 40 Top Hospitals for 2010. These awards recognise outstanding performance in 21 areas which we believe are critical to delivering good patient care.”